Box Score

MORROW, GA – The North Georgia women’s basketball team held a game-high 13-point first half lead on Saturday evening, but could not hold off the powerful offense of the Lakers as 19th-ranked Clayton State University battled back for a 72-63 Peach Belt Conference victory at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

The Lady Saints drop to 5-10 overall on the season, having lost six straight games and falling to 1-6 in Peach Belt Conference play, while the Lakers win their second straight and improve to 14-3 on the year and 5-2 in league games.

North Georgia continued a trend from recent games and jumped out on the Lakers early, building the first double-digit lead of the game at 21-11 with 8:08 remaining in the first half as Sara Stinson knocked down a layup to create the 10-point advantage.

The Lady Saints would extend their lead to a game-high 13 points less than a minute later as Janyce Ealey’s free throw made it a 24-11 game with 7:13 remaining in the first half.

Clayton State would respond over the final seven minutes however, using a 19-6 run to get right back in the game and knot the score 30-30 at intermission. Tanisha Woodward steal and fast break layup in the final seconds tied the score at halftime. 

The second half was all about the Lakers who jumped out to a nine-point lead just eight minutes into the period, but North Georgia responded and came all the way back to take the lead with just 6:03 remaining as Danielle Seeley hit a three-pointer to give the Lady Saints a two-point advantage at 55-53.

Clayton State would have final word however, answering with a 14-0 run to take a 12-point lead at 67-55 before holding on for the nine-point victory.

Three North Georgia players finished in double figures, led by Randolph who tallied17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Ealey added 14 points and Seeley chipped in 12 points off the bench.

Teshymia Tillman scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Lakers, while LaDe’Sha Stoudemire added a double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds. Woodard also finished in double figures with 18 points and six assists.

North Georgia shot 46.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from long range, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line, while Clayton State was 40.3 percent from the floor, 41.2 percent from behind the arc, and just 53.8 percent from the charity stripe.

The Lady Saints return to action on Monday evening as Truett-McConnell comes to Dahlonega for a rescheduled game from earlier this season. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.